Hull-based charity Concrete Youth has announced that it has appointed three Patrons to join its charity.
Concrete Youth is an award-winning, Hull-based charity, offering multi-sensory theatre and education for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
Joanna Grace, a leading expert in sensory engagement for people with PMLD has joined the charity as a Patron, after supporting the team on the development of all of their productions to date. Grace said: “I’ve been watching Concrete Youth stride out as the new kids on the sensory block for a while now, their willingness to innovate is exciting but what has impressed me most is their drive to go deep and their desire to really understand audience members with profound and multiple learning disabilities, to make sure their work is meaningful, engaging and connective for everyone at every level.”
13-year-old campaigner, Rosa is a campaigner for an accessible world. She is delighted to join the charity as a Patron. Rosa, and her mum, Amy said: “Rosa and her family are keen advocates for a more accessible world in every way. Rosa was excited to be involved with Concrete Youth as she loves theatre and doing things with other kids, we can’t wait to learn more about the work that they do and experience it for ourselves.”
To complete the line-up, another member of Concrete Youth’s audience is Maisy. Maisy, and her mum, Sophie said: “Concrete Youth’s amazing sensory story sessions have become such a joy to Maisy and to us as a family. The involvement and inclusion that they have shown is refreshing, reassuring and immensely enjoyable. They take time to allow Maisy to respond during the sessions and praise her when they notice her reactions, however small they may be. It was a great surprise to have received the invitation of her in becoming a Patron for the charity. It was overwhelming but equally exciting! Sadly, since the pandemic, young disabled people like Maisy and their families have been forgotten in so many ways so it is wonderful to have charities such as this who have and continue to recognise the need for these resources to continue to be available and to acknowledge how beneficial these can be. Having Maisy be asked to represent their charity just shows how much they value the lives of the individuals they support and the contribution that Maisy is able to give to support their ongoing work and research despite the severe level of her disabilities. Thank you for giving Maisy this incredible opportunity!”
CEO & Co-Artistic Director, Daniel Swift FRSA said: “We’re delighted to welcome these three fantastic individuals to our charity. All three of them illustrate our values so eloquently, support Concrete Youth wholeheartedly and, like us, envision a world where theatre is accessible for everyone.”
You can find out more about Concrete Youth’s Patrons on their website at www.concreteyouth.co.uk.